Disconnecting air-break switch



Dec. 31, 1929. JOHNSON, JR 1,742,079

DISCONNECTING AIR BREAK SWITCH Original Filed March 18, 1924 3Sheets-Sheei l will WITN ESSES ATTO RN EV Dec.'31,1929. T. F. JOHNSON,JR

DISCONNECTING AIR BREAK SWITCH Original Filed March 18, 1924 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTO R N EY Dec. 31, 1929. T. F. JOHNSON, JR

DISCONNECTING AIR BREAK SWITCH Original Filed March 18, 1924 5Sheets-Sheet FavgN-roa .TLE'do/zns on VITN ESSES ATTO RN EY PatentedDec. 31, 1929 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE TOMLINS ON IF. JOHNSON, J'RJ, FATLANTA, GEORGIA a DISCONNECTING AIR-BREAK swnron Application fileilMarch is, 1B24,se'ria1 No. 700,112. Renewed Ma 21, 1929.

i against the contacts causes the blade to be burned off,,or the strainresulting from its op eration causes the insulator to break.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a switchof heavy and rugged construction which makes a firm contact,

and has, therefore, a large current'carrying capacity, which may beopened and closed quickly,thus keeping the resulting are at a I minimum,andwhich may be operated with out causing excessive strain on theinsulators.

The switch which constitutes the present invention is especially adaptedto be used in connection with the contacting jaws disclosed in myco-pending application, Serial No.

675,367,filed November 17, 1923, now Patent 1,560,165, dated November 3,1925, but is not necessarily limited thereto.

The invention consists further in various details of construction andcombinations of elements which will be more particularly described inthe following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, Whichillustrate the invention in its preferredform. i i

In the drawings: 1 a

Figure 1 is a perspective viewillustrating the switch in closedposition.

Figure 2 is a similar view with the switch Figure 5 isa side elevationof'the switch supporting and operating means with the switch in closedposition.

Figure 6 is asimilar view with the switch being opened. i t Figure 7 isa detail sectional view illustrating the means for completing theopening movement, and for cushioning the same.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the switch actuating means, with the switch inopen position.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the switch, showing its specialadaptation for gang oper- In the embodiment of my invention shown in thedrawings, the switch and its operating means are supported upon asuitable barlO, which is in alinement with the conductor and supportedat the top of a tower or pole of the transmission line. Insulators 11and 12 are secured to opposite ends of the bar 10, and have supportingbrackets 13 and 1&- secured thereto, which are preferably of bronze. Oneofthe brackets, as 13, has a lug 15 to which the end of the conductor 16is secured, and carries contacting jaws 17, preferably of the typedisclosed in my oo-pending application above referred to, andelectricallyconnected to the bracket 13 by conductor loops 18.

The other supporting bracket 14 has alug 19 to which the end of theotherconductor 20 issecured, and carries upstanding spaced cars 89 21to'whichone end of a supporting bar 22 is secured byfa pin 23, or other suitablemeans, this bar beingelectrically connected to the bracket by a suitableconductor loop 24. The

other end of the bar 22 is formed into a yoke 35 25, between the arms ofwhich the switch blade 26is pivotally supportedby a pin 27 or the like,the blade being electrically connected to thebar 22 by a suitableconductor loop 28.

The extremity of the bar 22 is curved downwardy andformed into an eye29, which receives a headed pin 80 secured to a boss 31, which projectsupwardly from abracket 32 secured to the middle insulator 33. l i

The insulator 33 is mounted for rocking movement about a] vertical axis,and the bracket 32 carries a cam 34, which may be formed integraltherewith and rotates with the insulator to open or close the switchblade 26. The cam 34 has on its upper face an in- 1 jaws 17.

clined surface 35, which, when the cam is rocked toward the left fromthe position shown in Figure 1, engages the lower edge of the switchblade 26, and forces the same out of the jaws 17. The bracket 13 isprovided with the usual born 36 to lessen the formation of arcs betweenthe switch blade and the contact jaws.

The switch blade 26 is extended rearwardly beyond the pivot pin 27 toform a heel 37, adapted to be engaged by the peripheral surface 38 ofthe cam 34 to effect the initial closing movement of the switch blade.The cam is eccentrically mounted, as best shown in Figure 8, and as itis rotated in a contra-clockwise direction, the heel 37 is forcedoutward l and upwardly, and the blade 26 is carried dbwnwardly towardthe contact jaws 17 until the heel engages the upwardly inc-linedsurface 39 of the cam, which is on the op osite side of the inclinedsurface 35, and comp etely closes the switch. The closing movement ofthe cam is limited by a lug 40 having an upstanding shoulder, whichengages the side of the heel 37 when the blade reaches its fully closedposition.

In order to hasten and facilitate the opening movement of the switchblade, the latter is provided on its back, near the pivot pin 27, withan car 41, which is )ivotally connected to a socket 42 secured to the,end of a plunger rod 43, which projects into a barrel 44 and terminatesin a plunger head 45. An expansile coiled spring 46 surrounds the rod 43within the barrel and acts between the plunger head 45 and the head 47,through which the rod 43 passes, to jerk the switch blade upwardly assoon as it is released from the The rear end of thebarrel 44 is closedby a cap 48 to form an air cushion in the end of the barrel, betweensaid cap and the plunger head 45 to check the movement of the blade, andto cushion the same and pre- Vent injury to the insulators. The barrel44 is securely and adjustably held in a clamp arm 49, which is pivotallyconnected at 50 to the bar 22, so as to permit the barrel to have arocking movement to follow the arcuate path of the end of the rod 43,which is connected to the switch blade.

The middle insulator 33, which supports the cam 34, is supported forrocking movement by means-of a pin 51, which extends verticallydownwardly through the bar 10, and is there provided with a sleeve 52 towhich is connected a socket 53 for receiving the end of a suitable tool54 b means ofwhich the insulator may be rocke and the switch opened orclosed by a person standing on the ground.

The circuit usually consists of three or more conductors, eachof whichis provided with a switch, and it is desirable to have these switchesconnected in gangs, so that they may all be 0 aerated simultaneously. 7The switch herein escribed is well adapted for such operation, and forthis purpose, as best shown in Figure 9, a collar 55, secured to the pin51, is provided with means for attaching a lever arm 56, which isprovided with perforated ears 57 adapted to be connected by links 58 tosimilar crank arms on the middle insulators supporting the otherswitches.

It is to be particularly noted that in the present invention the linkand lever mechanism, which has been found so inefficient in previousconstructions, is entirely eliminated, and the switch is opened andclosed by a cam or wedge action by means of which great power may beobtained with a minimum effort on the part of the operator, and withlittle strain on the insulator. This superior feature is obtainedwithout sacrificing or diminishing in other respects the quality andefliciency of the switch. In fact, my switch opens more quickly thanother switches, since as soon as the cam action releases the blade fromcontact with the jaws, the spring jerks it open. The speed at which thistakes place keeps the resulting are at a minimum, and the switch canconsequently be used on circuits carrying more load than switches ofdifferent construction. Owing to the cam or switch action, the operatordoes not have to raise the weight of the blade, consequently the bladecan be made heavy and rugged, and of large current carrying capacity.The switch also closes with a very high speed, using the momentum of theblade to force it into contact with the jaws. The latter can, therefore,be adjusted so that the contact will be very tight. The switch may beclosed by slamming, and there will be no recoil against the insulator.Since the blade in opening moves through a comparatively short are whenit is released from the jaws and opened by the action of the spring, itis only necessary to move the cam through an arc of approximately 90between opening and closing positions.

While I have shown and described the structural details of the preferredembodiment of my invention it is to be understood that this is merelyillustrative, and that various modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the salient features of the invention, or sacrificing anyof its advantages. I do not, therefore, desire to be limited to thisprecise construction, but intend to cover by the appended claims allsuch modifications as are within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What is claimed is: j

1. In a disconnecting switch, the combi nation with a pivoted switchblade and jaws with which the same is adapted to contact, of a cammounted for rocking movement about an axis which is transverse to theaxis of said blade and having a face engageable with said blade to forceit open when the cam is rocked in one direction, and another faceengageable with the blade on theoppo site side of the pivot to close itwhen the Qcam is rocked in the opposite direction.*

2. In a disconnecting switch, thecombination with a pivoted switch bladeand jaws with which the same is adapted to contact, of a cam mounted forrocking movement about an which is transverse to the axis of said bladeand having aface engageable with said bladeto force'it out of contactwith the jaws when the cam is rocked in one direction, and a springoperable to jerk the switch blade to wide open position as soon as it isreleased from the jaws, said cam having another face engageable with theblade on the opposite side of the pivot to close it when the cam isrocked in the opposite direction. 1 i

3. Ina disconnecting switch, the combination with a pivoted switch bladeand jaws with which the same is adapted to contact, of a cam mounted forrocking movement about an axis which is transverse tothe axis of saidbladeand having a face engageable with said blade to force it out ofcontact with the aws when the cam is rockedin one direction, and aspring operable to jerk the switch blade to wide open position as soonas it is released fromthe jaws, and means for cushioning the blade as itapproaches its wide open position, said cam having another facewhich'is, engageable withthe open blade to close it when the cam isrocked in the oppo site direction. 1 p i i. In a disconnecting switch,the combination with a pivoted switch'blade and jaws with which the sameis adapted to contact,

of a cam mounted for rocking movement about an-axis which is transverseto the axis of said blade and having a face engageable with the underside of the blade to force it out of said aws when the cam is rocked inonedirection, a spring operable to jerk the switch blade to wide openposition as soon m as it is released from. the jaws ,and an airj cushionoperable to check the impact of the bladeas it reaches the limit of itsopening movement, said cam havlng another face engageable with the bladeto close 1t when the cam is rocked in the opposite direction.

5. In a disconnecting switch, the combination of aswitch blade, acooperating member with which the blade is adapted to contact,insulators on which said blade and cooperating member are supported, oneof said ina cam mounted for rocking movement about an axis which isperpendicular to the axis of the switch blade and having a faceengageable with said blade to force it from said jaws when the camisrocked in one direction, a piston pivotally connected with the blade,a spring operable on 'the headof the piston to jerkthe switch blade wideopen as soon as itis released "from the jaws, said cam havinganotherlface engageable with the blade to close it when the cam isrocked inthe oppositedirection. 11H l A 7. In a disconnecting switch,the combination with a pivoted Switchblade and jaws between which thesame is adapted to beheld, of a cam mounted for rocking movement aboutan axis which is perpendicular to the axis of the switch blade andhaving a face engageable with said bladeto force it out of the oppositedirection.

8. In a disconnecting switch, the-combinationwith a pivoted switch bladeand jaws between which the same is adapted to be held, of a cam mountedfor rockingmovement about an axis which is perpendicular to the axis ofthe switch blade and having a face engageable l with said bladetoforceit out of the jaws when the cam is rockedin one direction, a pistonpivotally connected with the blade, a spring operable up on the head ofthe piston to jerk the switch blade wide open as soon as it is releasedfrom the jaws by the movement of the cam, and an air cushion operabletocheck the impact of the blade as it reaches the limit of its openingmovement, said cam having another face engageable with the blade toclose it when thBiCaII]. is rocked in the opposite direction. a i a.

9. In a disconnecting switch, the combination of two insulators having apivoted switch blade supported thereon, a third insulator in alinementwith the other two and having aws supported thereon which normallyreceive said blade between them, the middle insula tor being mounted torock about a vertical axis, and cam means secured in fixed relation tothemiddle insulator and engageable direct- 1y with the switch blade toopen or close the samewhen saidmiddle insulator isrocked.

, 10. Ina disconnecting switch, the combination of two insulators havinga pivoted switch blade supported thereon, a third insulator in alinementwith the other two and having jaws supported thereon'which normallyreceive said blade between them, one of the twoinsulators firstmentioned being mounted for rocking movement about a vertical axisbeneath the switch blade, a cam secured to the rockable insulator andengageable with the switch blade to open it when the insulator is rockedin one direction, and engageable with the switch blade to close it whenthe insulator is rocked in the other direction.

11. In a disconnecting switch, the combination of a pair of jaws, aswitch blade pivoted to swing in a vertical plane into and out ofcontact with said jaws to close and open the switch, a cam mounted torock about a vertical axis and having a surface engageable with theunder side of said blade between the blade ivot and said jaws topositively force the blade out of contact with the jaws when the cam isrocked in one direction, said blade having a heel projecting rearwardlybeyond its pivot, and said cam having another surface engageable withsaid heel, when the cam is rocked in the opposite direction, to closethe switch blade.

12. In a disconnecting switch, the combination with a pair of jaws and aswitch blade pivoted to swing in a "ertical plane into and out ofcontact with said jaws to close and open the switch, of a cam mounted torock about a vertical axis and having a surface engageable with theunder side of said blade between the blade pivot and said jaws topositively force the blade out of contact with the jaws when the cam isrocked in one direction, a spring operable to jerk the switch blade towide open osition as soon as it is released from the jaws y the actionof the cam, said blade having a heel projecting rearwardly beyond itspivot, and said cam having another surface enga eable with the heel toclose the blade when t e cam is rocked in the opposite direction.

13. In a disconnecting switch, the combination with a pair ofijaws and aswitch blade pivoted to swing in a vertical plane and ads ted when inhorizontal position to be hel between said jaws, of a cam mounted torock about a vertical axis and having a surface engageable with theunder side of said blade between the blade pivot and said jaws topositively force the blade out of contact with the jaws when the cam isrocked in one direction, a spring operable to jerk the switch blade towide openposition as soon as it is released from the jaws by the actionof the cam, means for cushioning the blade as it approaches its wideopen position, said blade having a heel projecting rearwardly beyond itspivot, and said cam having another surface engageable with said heel toclose the blade when the cam is rocked in the opposite direction.

14. In a disconnecting switch, the combination with a pair of jaws and aswitch blade pivoted to swing in a vertical plane into and out ofcontact with said jaws to close a and open the switch, of a cam mountedto rock about a vertical axis and having a surface engageable with theunder side of said blade between the blade pivot and said jaws topositively force the blade out of contact with the jaws when the cam isrocked in one direction, a spring operable to jerk the switch blade intowide open position as soon as it is released from the jaws by the actionof the cam, an air cushion operable to check the impact of the blade asit reaches the limit of its opening movement, said blade having a heelprojecting rearwardly beyond its pivot, and said cam having anothersurface engageable with said heel to close the blade when the cam isrocked in the opposite direction.

15. In a disconnecting switch, the combination with a pair of jaws and aswitch blade pivoted to swing in a vertical plane into and out ofcontact with said jaws to open and close the switch, of means engageabledirectly with the lower edge of the blade for positively releasing theblade from the jaws, spring means for jerking the blade to wide openposition as soon as it is released, means for cushioning the blade as itapproaches its wide open position, and means for closing the switch.

16. In a disconnecting switch, the combination with a pair of jaws, of aswitch blade pivoted to swing into and out of contact with said jaws toclose and open the switch, in- .sulators on which the blade and jaws aresupported, one of said insulators being rockable about an axis whichlies in the plane of movement of said blade, and a cam. secured to saidrockable insulator, said cam, when rocked in one direction, beingengageable with the blade on one side of its pivot to open the same, andwhen rocked in the other direction engageable with the blade on theother side of its pivot to close the same.

17 In a disconnecting switch, the combination with a pair of jaws and aswitch blade pivoted to swing in a vertical plane into and out ofcontact with said jaws to close and en the switch, of a cam mounted torock a out a vertical axis and having a surface engageable with theunder side of said blade between the blade pivot and said jaws to forcethe blade out of contact with the jaws when the cam is rocked in onedirection, a piston pivotally connected with the blade, a springoperable on the head of the piston to jerk the switch blade to wide openposition as soon as it is released from the jaws by the action of thecam, said blade having a heel projecting rearwardly beyond its pivot,and said cam having another surface engageable with said heel to closethe blade when the cam is rocked in the opposite direction. 18. In adisconnecting switch, the combinatron with a pair of jaws and a switchblade pivoted to swing in a vertical plane into and out of contact withsaid jaws to close and open the switch, of a cam mounted to rock about avertical axis and having a surface engageable with the under sideof saidblade between the blade pivot and said jaws to positively releasetheblade from the jaws when the cam is rocked in one direction, a pistonpivotally connected with the blade, a spring operable on the head of thepiston to jerk the switch blade to wide open position as soon as it isreleased from the jaws by the action of the cam, means for cushioningthe blade as it approaches its wide open position, said blade having aheel projecting rearwardly beyond its pivot, and said cam having anothersurface engageable with said heel to positively close the blade when thecam is rocked in the opposite direction.

19. In a disconnecting switch, the combination with a pair of jaws and aswitch blade pivoted to swing in a vertical plane into and out ofcontact with said jaws to close and open the switch, said blade being ina horizontal position when closed, of a cam mounted to rock about avertical axis and having a surface engageable with the under side ofsaid blade between the blade pivot and said jaws to positively force theblade out of contact with the jaws when the cam is rocked in onedirection, a piston pivotally connected with the blade, a springoperable on the head of the piston to jerk the switch blade to wideopenposition as soon as it is released from the jaws by the action of thecam, an air cushion operable to check the impact of the blade as itapproaches a vertical position, said blade having a heel projectingrearwardly beyond its pivot, and said cam having anothersurfaceengageable with the heel to positively swing the blade from vertical tohorizontal position to close the switch when the cam is rocked in theopposite direction. a

20. In a disconnecting switch the combina-, tion with a pair of jaws anda switch blade pivoted .to swing in avertical plane into and out ofcontact with said jaws to close and open the switch, of means roc-kableabout a vertical axis beneath theblade pivot and engageable directlywith the blade to positively release a j the blade from the jaws whensaid means is rocked in one direction, means for jerking the blade towide open position as soon as it is released, means ;tor cushioning theblade as it approaches its wide open position, said rockable means beingoperable when rocked in the,

opppsite direction to positively close said b at e.

21. In a disconnecting switch, thecombt nation with a pair ofjaws and aswitch blade pivoted to swing in a vertical plane into and out ofcontact with said jaws to close and open the switch, of means mounted torock about a vertical axis beneath the blade pivot and operable whenrocked in one direction to positively release the switch blade fromcontact with the jaws, means for jerking the blade to tion with apivoted switch blade and jaws with which the same isadapted to contact,o't'a cam mounted for rocking movement and having a face engageable withsaid blade to force it out of contact with the jaws when the cam isrocked in one direction, and having another face engageable with theblade to close itwhen the cam is rocked in the opposite direction, and arock arm, secured in fixed relation to said cam and provided with meansfor connecting it to move in unison with corresponding rock arms ofsimilar switches for gang operation.

23. In a disconnecting switch, the combination with a pair of aws and aswitch blade pivoted to swing in a vertical plane into and out oicontact with said aws to close and open the switch, of a cam mounted torock about a vertical axis and having a. surface engageable having aheel projecting rearwardly beyond its pivot, said cam having anothersurface engageable with the heel to close the blade when the cam isrocked in the opposite direction, and a rock arm secured in fixedrelation to said cam and providedrwith means for connecting it to movein unison with corresponding rock arms of similar switches for gangoperation.

24. In a disconnecting air break switch for high tension transmissionlines a pivoted switch blade, jaws with which said blade is adapted tocontact, spring means pivotally connected to said blade and normallyurging it to open, and a compound cam engageable with the switch bladeon opposite sides of the pivot; said cam having a face portion adaptedto initiate the opening movement of the switch blade to release it fromthe jaws so that said spring means will snap the blade open, and anotherface on the cam adapted to engage the switch blade on the opposite sideof the pivotto close it.

25. In a disconnecting air break switch for high tension transmissionlines a pivoted sulator having portions to engage the blade on oppositesides of the pivot, one portion being arranged initially to release theblade from the gripping jaws and the other portion being arranged toclose ,the blade.

switch blade; blade gripping jaws with'which 26. In a disconnectingairbreak switch for hi h tension transmission lines a pivoted switch blade;blade gripping j aws with which said blade is adapted to contact; meansnorlnally urging the blade to open; a movable insulator mounted adjacentto the pivoted end of the blade; and acompound cam secured to saidinsulator having cam surfaces slidably ehgageable with the switch bladeon opposite sides of the pivot, one of the cam faces being constructedand arranged to initiate opening movement of the blade and the other camface being constructed and arranged to close the blade.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoafiixed m signature.

TOMLINSON F. J OH SON, JR.

